Portable diagnostic instrument protective boot

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for an electronic diagnostic instrument that is integrally molded unit having respective first and second oppositely disposed laterally spaced apart sections with one such section being a mirror image of the other. Each section has an upper elongate portion, a lower portion that is offset from the upper portion and a further portion interconnecting the upper and lower portions. The upper portion, the lower portion and portion interconnecting the same having a contiguous inner face with flanges along respective opposite marginal edges thereof. The flanges overlap marginal edge portions of a diagnostic instrument inserted between the spaced apart pair of sections. A pair of straps, located approximately mid length of the lower elongate portions, interconnect the pair of sections providing handles. Lips project inwardly toward one another at the upper and lower ends of the unit serving to retain the instrument in the protective cover. Slots are formed therein for holding portable memory card type devices.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a protective cover, referred to herein as aboot, for removably receiving therein a motor vehicle portablediagnostic instrument and to a combination of the same.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Portable diagnostic instruments are commonly used to check variouscomputerized motor vehicle functions. One common instrument has aprincipal unit that includes a readout section and a module thatremovably plugs into the principal unit. A wiring harness plugs at oneend thereof into the module and at the other end into a socket, on themotor vehicle, having leads therefrom to the computer unit of the motorvehicle. Since not all vehicle are identical there are a number ofdifferent modules and also there are software cards with informationembedded therein that are used one at a time in association with thediagnostic instrument during a diagnostic procedure.

The diagnostic instrument is a delicate precision piece of equipmentused in a harsh environment. Accordingly it is desirable to haveprotection for the same while at the same time not obscuring from viewthe information read out portion of the instrument.

During use the diagnostic instrument is usually placed on a surface ofthe vehicle nearest at hand which often is a portion of the painted(most often slippery) surface of the vehicle and thus it is useful tohave a high frictional surface material between the instrument and thesurface of the vehicle. Moreover, it is important that the finish on theautomobile not be damaged and that he diagnostic instrument not slideoff of the vehicle and be damaged upon falling on the ground.

A complete diagnostic instrument has a number of different componentsassociated therewith only a few of which are used at any one givenmoment depending upon the particular vehicle and or analysis of aparticular component(s) of a vehicle. Accordantly it is desirable tohave storage for pieces associated with the diagnostic instrument thatare not in use but maybe used during a diagnostic assessment of aparticular vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided in accordance with the present invention a protectivecover for an electronic diagnostic instrument and associated softwarecards or modules. In a preferred embodiment, the cover comprisesrespective first and second oppositely disposed laterally spaced apartsections. Each the section comprises an upper and a lower portion offsetfrom one another and a further portion interconnecting the portions. Theupper and lower portions and the portion interconnecting the same, havean inner face, with the face on one section disposed in face to facerelation with that on the other section. The upper and lower portionshave flanges along respective opposite marginal edges of the inner faceassociated therewith. The flanges on one such section project therefromin a direction toward the other of the first and second sections. Afirst and second spaced apart pair of straps interconnect the first andsecond sections.

There is also provided in accordance with the present invention aprotective cover for an electronic diagnostic instrument and softwaremodule. The cover comprises an integrally molded unit includingrespective first and second oppositely disposed laterally spaced apartsections. Each section has an upper elongate portion, a lower portionoffset from the upper portion and a further portion interconnecting theupper and lower portions. The upper and lower portions and portioninterconnecting the same have a contiguous inner face. The upper andlower portions have flanges along respective opposite marginal edges ofthe inner face associated therewith. The flanges on one such sectionproject therefrom in a direction toward the other of the first andsecond sections. A first and second spaced apart pair of strapsinterconnect the laterally spaced apart first and second sections.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention will be had uponreference to the following description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a diagnostic instrument protective bootprovided in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the protective boot;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational views of the protective boot;

FIG. 4 is a right hand side end elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a left hand side end elevational view;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an oblique view of a diagnostic instrument that is removablyinsertable into the boot; and

FIG. 9 is a front oblique view of a portion of the instrument of FIG. 8inserted into the boot illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 is a soft resiliently flexible boot 10 madeof an elastomer, STYROFOAM, a polymer compound, or rubber like moldablematerial to removably receive and provide protection for a portablediagnostic instrument 50 such as is illustrated in FIG. 8. The boot ispreferably a molded monolithic unit but could, if desired, be composedof multiple sections suitably interconnected.

The instant device can be used to protect any electrical instrument usedin service or shop areas by technicians and the like to test electricaland computer components of equipment. It is anticipated that the devicewould be usable in vehicle shops or in aerospace, marine industries, ormilitary installations and the like to protect hand held analyticalinstruments. In one preferred embodiment, an instrument 50 is used todiagnose various functions of a motorized vehicle having a computermodule controlling unit. The diagnostic instrument 50 comprises aprincipal unit 51 that fits into a first principal portion of the bootand a module 52 that slip fits into a minor lower portion of the boot.The module 52 detachably connects to the principal unit 51. There arenumerous different modules correlated to the various different makes andmodels of vehicles. A wiring harness 53 detachably connects at one endthereof to the module and at the other end to a socket on the motorvehicle (normally in the motor compartment) having leads therefrom tothe vehicle's computer. FIG. 9 illustrates the principal unit 51 of thediagnostic instrument in the protective boot 10. In FIG. 1, thediagnostic instrument 50, (components 51, 52) is shown in broken line inthe protective boot.

The boot 10 has respective upper and lower ends 11, 12 and respectivefront and rear faces 13 and 14. The faces 13, 14 are disposed inrespective ones of two imaginary spaced apart parallel planes. The bootprovides a protective cover around a major portion of the periphery ofthe instrument disposed between and offset inwardly from such spacedapart imaginary parallel planes. The amount of offset is defined, aswill become apparent hereinafter, by the thickness of flanges thatoverlap peripheral edge portions of the instrument 50 and retain thesame captive in the boot. The overlapped portions not only serve to holdthe instrument but to protect the vehicle from scratch or scuff marks ifthe user places the boot and instrument onto the vehicle surface.

The protective cover, i.e. boot 10, comprises first and second sections15 and 16 that are mirror images of one another on opposite sides of aplane perpendicular to the aforementioned imaginary parallel planes. Thefirst and second sections 15, 16 are interconnected by first and secondspaced apart parallel straps 17, 18.

The boot sections 15, 16 each have respective upper and lower elongateportions 19 and 20 that are offset from one another and interconnectedby an intermediate portion 21. At the upper end there is an end lipportion 22. These portions 19, 20, 21, and 22 have a contiguous surface23 disposed between respective front and rear flanges 24, 25. Theseflanges captively retain the instrument in the boot and the outersurfaces thereof define the aforementioned respective front and rearfaces 13, 14. The thickness of the flanges determines the amount of thepreviously referred to offset of the face of the instrument relative tothe aforementioned imaginary spaced apart parallel planes. Adjacent thelower end 12 the surface 23 slopes toward a lip 26 that terminates atthe lower end of the boot. Proximate this lip the flanges 23, 24 haverespective notched portions 27, 28.

The diagnostic instrument principal unit 51 is ‘T’ shaped having a stemportion 54 and a cross portion 55 that fit respectively into the bootportions 20 and 19. The lip 22 overlaps an upper end portion of thecross portion 55 of the instrument and locks the same in the boot, thelower portion being disposed in abutting relation with the boot portion21. The lower end 56 of the stem portion 54 is located below the straps17, 18.

Each boot section 15, 16 has a reinforcing gusset 29 that extends fromthe juncture of portions 19, 21 to the lower end of the portion 20. Thepair of reinforcing gussets 29 are elongate members with a roundedoutline configuration in cross-section and provide handles 60 that canreadily be grasped or hooked onto a suitable object to support the boot10 and instrument during a diagnostic procedure. The outer surface ofthe gusset and portion 19 of the respective sections 15, 16 is gentlycurved and together with the outer surface of end portion 22 constitutesthe outer periphery of the boot. The straps are narrowed down comparedwith to the remainder of the portions as best shown in FIGS. 4-7,providing for a comfortable grip on the handle 60 and a handle 60 thatis readily finger engageable when the boot 10 is lying flat on a supportsurface such as a vehicle hood.

The upper portion 19 has means for holding a portable memory device,more particularly, comprising at least one slot 40 or pocket to receivea card or cards conventionally associated with the diagnosticinstrument. A plurality of slots of different sizes can be provided toaccommodate different types of memory card devices. Indentations 41 onopposite sides of the slot provide a finger receiving area to facilitategripping a card in the slot to remove the same therefrom. The slot isformed or cut into the elastomeric or rubber boot and is thereforpliable yet resilient providing a good grip to the memory device. Theslot 40 in the boot section 15 opens into a notch 45 in the rear face 14of the boot section 15 while the slot 40 in boot section 16 is open onlyon the front face 13. The slot 40 may hold cards which plug intocomputer serial ports, thumb drives, memory stick, memory cards such areused in cameras, mini CD discs, or any portable memory devices forstoring information and transferring same to an instrument and/orcomputer. Since not all vehicles are identical there are a number ofdifferent modules can be used. There are software cards with informationembedded therein that are used one at a time in association with thediagnostic instrument during a diagnostic procedure.

The instrument portion 51 is readily insertable into the boot byspreading apart the end portions 22 of the boot sections. The locationand flexibility of the straps 17, 18 facilitates such spreading. Duringthis operation the lower part of portions 20 move toward one another.When the module 52 is inserted the instrument 50 such movement towardone another is prevented and thus the instrument 50 is effectivelylocked within the boot 10.

The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness ofunderstanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in theart based upon more recent disclosures and may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

1. A protective cover for an electronic diagnostic instrument, saidcover comprising respective first and second oppositely disposedlaterally spaced apart sections each of which comprises an upper and alower portion offset from one another with a further portioninterconnecting said upper and lower portions, said upper and lowerportions and portion interconnecting the same on the respective sectionshaving an inner face, said upper and lower portions having flanges alongrespective opposite marginal edges of the inner face associatedtherewith, said flanges on one such section projecting therefrom in adirection toward the other of said first and second sections, and afirst and second spaced apart pair of straps interconnecting said firstand second sections.
 2. The protective cover as defined in claim 1wherein each of said upper and lower portions are elongate members. 3.The protective cover as defined in claim 2 wherein said elongate membersare disposed substantially parallel to one another.
 4. The protectivecover as defined in claim 3 wherein said upper and lower elongatemembers are offset from one another an amount corresponding to thelength of said further portion interconnecting such portions.
 5. Theprotective cover as defined in claim 1 wherein each said first andsecond sections is an integrally molded member.
 6. The protective coveras defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second sections aredisposed between a pair of spaced apart imaginary planes and whereinsaid first and second sections project onto such planes as a mirrorimage of one another.
 7. The protective cover as defined in claim 6wherein said imaginary planes are parallel to one another.
 8. Theprotective cover for an electronic diagnostic instrument, said covercomprising an integrally molded unit including respective first andsecond oppositely disposed laterally spaced apart sections, each saidsection having an upper elongate portion, a lower elongate portionoffset from said upper portion and a further portion interconnectingsaid upper and lower portions, said upper and lower portions and portioninterconnecting the same having a contiguous inner face and wherein suchfaces on the upper and lower portions of the respective sections aredisposed in face-to-face relation, said upper and lower portions havingflanges along respective opposite marginal edges of the inner faceassociated therewith, said flanges on one such section projectingtherefrom in a direction toward the other of said first and secondsections, and a first and second spaced apart pair of strapsinterconnecting said first and second sections.
 9. The protective coveras defined in claim 8 wherein said lower elongate portions are ofgreater length than said upper elongate portions.
 10. The protectivecover as defined in claim 9 wherein said pair of straps interconnect thelower portions of said respective first and second sections.
 11. Theprotective cover as defined in claim 10 wherein said straps are locatedapproximately mid-length of said lower elongate portions.
 12. Theprotective cover as defined in claim 8 wherein said upper elongateportion of each section terminates in a lip portion projecting therefromand wherein said lip on one of said pair of sections projects in adirection toward the other of said pair of sections.
 13. The protectivecover as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said sections has areinforcing gusset interconnected at opposite ends thereof respectivelyto said upper and lower elongate portions.
 14. The protective cover asdefined in claim 13 wherein each of said sections has a reinforcinggusset and wherein said gussets provide a pair of handles.
 15. Theprotective cover as defined in claim 8 wherein said cover is made ofrubber or a rubber like polymer material.